Systems and methods for a double-sided battery pack cooling assembly

ABSTRACT

A system for battery pack cooling including a battery pack. The battery pack includes a plurality of pouch cells and a separation element, where the separation separates at least a first pouch cell of the plurality pouch cells from a second pouch cell of the plurality of pouch cells. The separation element contains a fluid. The system also includes a cooling plate, where the cooling plate is adjacent to the lower side of the battery pack. The cooling plate comprises at least a cooling fin, where the at least a cooling fin extends towards the separation element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of battery packcooling. In particular, the present invention is directed to systems andmethods for a double-sided battery pack cooling assembly.

BACKGROUND

Electric aircraft rely on battery packs in order to supply the energyneeded for flight. In order to ensure that the electric aircraft has themaximum range possible and to increase battery life span, it isimportant to cool the battery pack to an optimal temperature.Furthermore, it is important to ensure that the cooling system for thebattery pack takes up a minimal amount of space and allows for maximumcooling. Existing solutions in this field do not satisfactorily addressthis problem.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In an aspect, an assembly for a double-sided battery pack cooling systemis illustrated. The assembly comprises a battery pack which includes afirst battery section separated from a second battery section by athermally insulating separator, wherein each of the first batterysection and the second battery section comprises a plurality of batterycells comprising a first stack of battery cells and a second stack ofbattery cells and a cooling plate having a first side and a second side,wherein the first side is in contact with the first stack of batterycells and the second side is in contact with the second stack of batterycells. The assembly also includes a sensor configured to detect atemperature of the battery pack and a controller communicativelyconnected to the sensor and configured to monitor the temperature of thebattery pack.

In another aspect, a method of manufacturing for a double-sided batterypack cooling assembly is shown. The method comprises making each of afirst battery section and a second battery section using a plurality ofbattery cells and a cooling plate, combining the first and the secondbattery sections with an insulating separator to make a battery pack,attaching the sensor to the battery pack, and communicatively connectinga controller to the sensor.

These and other aspects and features of non-limiting embodiments of thepresent invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art uponreview of the following description of specific non-limiting embodimentsof the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspectsof one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of an electric aircraft;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a double-sided battery pack coolingassembly for an electric aircraft;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram of a double-sided battery pack coolingassembly;

FIG. 4 is a depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a pouch cell;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of a controller of an aircraft;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of amachine-learning module;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of amanufacturing method for a double-sided battery pack cooling assembly;and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a computing system that can be used toimplement any one or more of the methodologies disclosed herein and anyone or more portions thereof.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated byphantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. Incertain instances, details that are not necessary for an understandingof the embodiments or that render other details difficult to perceivemay have been omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however,that the present invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means“serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementationdescribed herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily tobe construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementationsprovided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use theembodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe disclosure, which is defined by the claims.

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however,that the present invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means“serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementationdescribed herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily tobe construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementationsprovided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use theembodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes ofdescription herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”,“front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relateto the invention as oriented in FIG. 1 . Furthermore, there is nointention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented inthe preceding technical field, background, brief summary or thefollowing detailed description. It is also to be understood that thespecific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, anddescribed in the following specification, are simply exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims.Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relatingto the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered aslimiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

Described herein is an assembly for a double-sided battery pack coolingsystem. Aspects of the present disclosure include a battery pack whichincludes a first battery section separated from a second battery sectionby a thermally insulating separator. Aspects of the present disclosuremay include each of the first battery section and the second batterysection comprising a plurality of battery cells comprising a first stackof battery cells and a second stack of battery cells. Aspects of thepresent disclosure may also include a cooling plate having a first sideand a second side, wherein the first side is in contact with the firststack of battery cells and the second side is in contact with the secondstack of battery cells. Aspects of the present disclosure may alsoinclude a sensor configured to detect a temperature of the battery packand a controller communicatively connected to the sensor.

Described herein is a method of manufacturing for a double-sided batterypack cooling assembly. The method may include comprising assembling abattery pack. Method ma include, at the battery pack, a first batterysection separated from a second battery section by a thermallyinsulating separator. Method may also include, at the battery pack, aplurality of battery cells comprising a first stack of battery cells anda second stack of battery cells. Method may include thermallycommunicating a cooling plate having a first side and a second side tothe battery pack, wherein the first side is in contact with the firststack of battery cells and the second side is in contact with the secondstack of battery cells. Method may include configuring a sensor, on thebattery pack, to detect a temperature of the battery pack. Method mayinclude communicatively connecting a controller to the sensor, whereinthe controller is configured to monitor the temperature of the batterypack.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of an aircraft 100 isillustrated. In an embodiment, aircraft 100 is an electric aircraft. Asused in this disclosure an “aircraft” is any vehicle that may fly bygaining support from the air. As a non-limiting example, aircraft mayinclude airplanes, helicopters, commercial and/or recreationalaircrafts, instrument flight aircrafts, drones, electric aircrafts,airliners, rotorcrafts, vertical takeoff and landing aircrafts, jets,airships, blimps, gliders, paramotors, and the like. Aircraft 100 mayinclude an electrically powered aircraft. In embodiments, electricallypowered aircraft may be an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL)aircraft. Electric aircraft may be capable of rotor-based cruisingflight, rotor-based takeoff, rotor-based landing, fixed-wing cruisingflight, airplane-style takeoff, airplane-style landing, and/or anycombination thereof. Electric aircraft may include one or more mannedand/or unmanned aircrafts. Electric aircraft may include one or moreall-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircrafts. For example,and without limitation, eSTOL aircrafts may accelerate plane to a flightspeed on takeoff and decelerate plane after landing. In an embodiment,and without limitation, electric aircraft may be configured with anelectric propulsion assembly. Electric propulsion assembly may includeany electric propulsion assembly as described in U.S. Nonprovisionalapplication Ser. No. 16/603,225, filed on Dec. 4, 2019, and entitled “ANINTEGRATED ELECTRIC PROPULSION ASSEMBLY,” the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

Still referring to FIG. 1 , aircraft 100, may include a fuselage 104 andflight component 108 (or one or more flight components 108).

As used in this disclosure, a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)aircraft is an aircraft that can hover, take off, and land vertically.An eVTOL, as used in this disclosure, is an electrically poweredaircraft typically using an energy source, of a plurality of energysources to power aircraft. To optimize the power and energy necessary topropel aircraft 100, eVTOL may be capable of rotor-based cruisingflight, rotor-based takeoff, rotor-based landing, fixed-wing cruisingflight, airplane-style takeoff, airplane style landing, and/or anycombination thereof. Rotor-based flight, as described herein, is wherethe aircraft generates lift and propulsion by way of one or more poweredrotors or blades coupled with an engine, such as a “quad-copter,”multi-rotor helicopter, or other vehicle that maintains its liftprimarily using downward thrusting propulsors. “Fixed-wing flight”, asdescribed herein, is where the aircraft is capable of flight using wingsand/or foils that generate lift caused by the aircraft's forwardairspeed and the shape of the wings and/or foils, such as airplane-styleflight.

Still referring to FIG. 1 , as used in this disclosure a “fuselage” is amain body of an aircraft, or in other words, the entirety of theaircraft except for a cockpit, nose, wings, empennage, nacelles, any andall control surfaces, and generally contains an aircraft's payload.Fuselage 104 may include structural elements that physically support ashape and structure of an aircraft. Structural elements may take aplurality of forms, alone or in combination with other types. Structuralelements may vary depending on a construction type of aircraft such aswithout limitation a fuselage 104. Fuselage 104 may include a trussstructure. A truss structure may be used with a lightweight aircraft andincludes welded steel tube trusses. A “truss,” as used in thisdisclosure, is an assembly of beams that create a rigid structure, oftenin combinations of triangles to create three-dimensional shapes. A trussstructure may alternatively include wood construction in place of steeltubes, or a combination thereof. In embodiments, structural elements mayinclude steel tubes and/or wood beams. In an embodiment, and withoutlimitation, structural elements may include an aircraft skin. Aircraftskin may be layered over the body shape constructed by trusses. Aircraftskin may include a plurality of materials such as plywood sheets,aluminum, fiberglass, and/or carbon fiber, the latter of which will beaddressed in greater detail later herein.

In embodiments, and with continued reference to FIG. 1 , aircraftfuselage 104 may include and/or be constructed using geodesicconstruction. Geodesic structural elements may include stringers woundabout formers (which may be alternatively called station frames) inopposing spiral directions. A “stringer,” as used in this disclosure, isa general structural element that may include a long, thin, and rigidstrip of metal or wood that is mechanically coupled to and spans adistance from, station frame to station frame to create an internalskeleton on which to mechanically couple aircraft skin. A former (orstation frame) may include a rigid structural element that is disposedalong a length of an interior of aircraft fuselage 104 orthogonal to alongitudinal (nose to tail) axis of the aircraft and may form a generalshape of fuselage 104. A former may include differing cross-sectionalshapes at differing locations along fuselage 104, as the former is thestructural element that informs the overall shape of a fuselage 104curvature. In embodiments, aircraft skin may be anchored to formers andstrings such that the outer mold line of a volume encapsulated byformers and stringers includes the same shape as aircraft 100 wheninstalled. In other words, former(s) may form a fuselage's ribs, and thestringers may form the interstitials between such ribs. The spiralorientation of stringers about formers may provide uniform robustness atany point on an aircraft fuselage such that if a portion sustainsdamage, another portion may remain largely unaffected. Aircraft skin maybe attached to underlying stringers and formers and may interact with afluid, such as air, to generate lift and perform maneuvers.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 1 , fuselage 104 mayinclude and/or be constructed using monocoque construction. Monocoqueconstruction may include a primary structure that forms a shell (or skinin an aircraft's case) and supports physical loads. Monocoque fuselagesare fuselages in which the aircraft skin or shell is also the primarystructure. In monocoque construction aircraft skin would support tensileand compressive loads within itself and true monocoque aircraft can befurther characterized by the absence of internal structural elements.Aircraft skin in this construction method is rigid and can sustain itsshape with no structural assistance form underlying skeleton-likeelements. Monocoque fuselage may include aircraft skin made from plywoodlayered in varying grain directions, epoxy-impregnated fiberglass,carbon fiber, or any combination thereof.

According to embodiments, and further referring to FIG. 1 , fuselage 104may include a semi-monocoque construction. Semi-monocoque construction,as used herein, is a partial monocoque construction, wherein a monocoqueconstruction is describe above detail. In semi-monocoque construction,aircraft fuselage 104 may derive some structural support from stressedaircraft skin and some structural support from underlying framestructure made of structural elements. Formers or station frames can beseen running transverse to the long axis of fuselage 104 with circularcutouts which are generally used in real-world manufacturing for weightsavings and for the routing of electrical harnesses and other modernon-board systems. In a semi-monocoque construction, stringers are thin,long strips of material that run parallel to fuselage's long axis.Stringers may be mechanically coupled to formers permanently, such aswith rivets. Aircraft skin may be mechanically coupled to stringers andformers permanently, such as by rivets as well. A person of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate, upon reviewing the entirety of thisdisclosure, that there are numerous methods for mechanical fastening ofcomponents like screws, nails, dowels, pins, anchors, adhesives likeglue or epoxy, or bolts and nuts, to name a few. A subset of fuselageunder the umbrella of semi-monocoque construction includes unibodyvehicles. Unibody, which is short for “unitized body” or alternatively“unitary construction”, vehicles are characterized by a construction inwhich the body, floor plan, and chassis form a single structure. In theaircraft world, unibody may be characterized by internal structuralelements like formers and stringers being constructed in one piece,integral to the aircraft skin as well as any floor construction like adeck.

Still referring to FIG. 1 , stringers and formers, which may account forthe bulk of an aircraft structure excluding monocoque construction, maybe arranged in a plurality of orientations depending on aircraftoperation and materials. Stringers may be arranged to carry axial(tensile or compressive), shear, bending or torsion forces throughouttheir overall structure. Due to their coupling to aircraft skin,aerodynamic forces exerted on aircraft skin will be transferred tostringers. A location of said stringers greatly informs the type offorces and loads applied to each and every stringer, all of which may behandled by material selection, cross-sectional area, and mechanicalcoupling methods of each member. A similar assessment may be made forformers. In general, formers may be significantly larger incross-sectional area and thickness, depending on location, thanstringers. Both stringers and formers may include aluminum, aluminumalloys, graphite epoxy composite, steel alloys, titanium, or anundisclosed material alone or in combination.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 1 , stressed skin, whenused in semi-monocoque construction is the concept where the skin of anaircraft bears partial, yet significant, load in an overall structuralhierarchy. In other words, an internal structure, whether it be a frameof welded tubes, formers and stringers, or some combination, may not besufficiently strong enough by design to bear all loads. The concept ofstressed skin may be applied in monocoque and semi-monocoqueconstruction methods of fuselage 104. Monocoque includes only structuralskin, and in that sense, aircraft skin undergoes stress by appliedaerodynamic fluids imparted by the fluid. Stress as used in continuummechanics may be described in pound-force per square inch (lbf/in²) orPascals (Pa). In semi-monocoque construction stressed skin may bear partof aerodynamic loads and additionally may impart force on an underlyingstructure of stringers and formers.

Still referring to FIG. 1 , it should be noted that an illustrativeembodiment is presented only, and this disclosure in no way limits theform or construction method of a system and method for loading payloadinto an eVTOL aircraft. In embodiments, fuselage 104 may be configurablebased on the needs of the eVTOL per specific mission or objective. Thegeneral arrangement of components, structural elements, and hardwareassociated with storing and/or moving a payload may be added or removedfrom fuselage 104 as needed, whether it is stowed manually, automatedly,or removed by personnel altogether. Fuselage 104 may be configurable fora plurality of storage options. Bulkheads and dividers may be installedand uninstalled as needed, as well as longitudinal dividers wherenecessary. Bulkheads and dividers may be installed using integratedslots and hooks, tabs, boss and channel, or hardware like bolts, nuts,screws, nails, clips, pins, and/or dowels, to name a few. Fuselage 104may also be configurable to accept certain specific cargo containers, ora receptable that can, in turn, accept certain cargo containers.

Still referring to FIG. 1 , aircraft 100 may include a plurality oflaterally extending elements attached to fuselage 104. As used in thisdisclosure a “laterally extending element” is an element that projectsessentially horizontally from fuselage, including an outrigger, a spar,and/or a fixed wing that extends from fuselage. Wings may be structureswhich may include airfoils configured to create a pressure differentialresulting in lift. Wings may generally dispose on the left and rightsides of the aircraft symmetrically, at a point between nose andempennage. Wings may include a plurality of geometries in planform view,swept swing, tapered, variable wing, triangular, oblong, elliptical,square, among others. A wing's cross section geometry may include anairfoil. An “airfoil” as used in this disclosure is a shape specificallydesigned such that a fluid flowing above and below it exert differinglevels of pressure against the top and bottom surface. In embodiments,the bottom surface of an aircraft can be configured to generate agreater pressure than does the top, resulting in lift. Laterallyextending element may include differing and/or similar cross-sectionalgeometries over its cord length or the length from wing tip to wherewing meets aircraft's body. One or more wings may be symmetrical aboutaircraft's longitudinal plane, which includes the longitudinal or rollaxis reaching down the center of aircraft through the nose andempennage, and plane's yaw axis. Laterally extending element may includecontrols surfaces configured to be commanded by a pilot or pilots tochange a wing's geometry and therefore its interaction with a fluidmedium, like air. Control surfaces may include flaps, ailerons, tabs,spoilers, and slats, among others. The control surfaces may dispose onthe wings in a plurality of locations and arrangements and inembodiments may be disposed at the leading and trailing edges of thewings, and may be configured to deflect up, down, forward, aft, or acombination thereof. An aircraft, including a dual-mode aircraft mayinclude a combination of control surfaces to perform maneuvers whileflying or on ground.

Still referring to FIG. 1 , aircraft 100 may include a plurality offlight components 108. As used in this disclosure a “flight component”is a component that promotes flight and guidance of an aircraft. In anembodiment, flight component 108 may be mechanically coupled to anaircraft. As used herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art wouldunderstand “mechanically coupled” to mean that at least a portion of adevice, component, or circuit is connected to at least a portion of theaircraft via a mechanical coupling. Said mechanical coupling mayinclude, for example, rigid coupling, such as beam coupling, bellowscoupling, bushed pin coupling, constant velocity, split-muff coupling,diaphragm coupling, disc coupling, donut coupling, elastic coupling,flexible coupling, fluid coupling, gear coupling, grid coupling, hirthjoints, hydrodynamic coupling, jaw coupling, magnetic coupling, Oldhamcoupling, sleeve coupling, tapered shaft lock, twin spring coupling, ragjoint coupling, universal joints, or any combination thereof. In anembodiment, mechanical coupling may be used to connect the ends ofadjacent parts and/or objects of an electric aircraft. Further, in anembodiment, mechanical coupling may be used to join two pieces ofrotating electric aircraft components.

Still referring to FIG. 1 , plurality of flight components 108 mayinclude at least a lift propulsor. As used in this disclosure a“propulsor” is a component and/or device used to propel a craft upwardby exerting force on a fluid medium, which may include a gaseous mediumsuch as air or a liquid medium such as water. Propulsor may include anydevice or component that consumes electrical power on demand to propelan electric aircraft in a direction or other vehicle while on ground orin-flight. For example, and without limitation, propulsor may include arotor, propeller, paddle wheel and the like thereof. In an embodiment,propulsor may include a plurality of blades. As used in this disclosurea “blade” is a propeller that converts rotary motion from an engine orother power source into a swirling slipstream. In an embodiment, blademay convert rotary motion to push the propeller forwards or backwards.In an embodiment propulsor may include a rotating power-driven hub, towhich are attached several radial airfoil-section blades such that thewhole assembly rotates about a longitudinal axis. The lift propulsor isfurther described herein with reference to FIG. 2 .

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 1 , plurality of flightcomponents 108 may include one or more power sources. As used in thisdisclosure a “power source” is a source that that drives and/or controlsany other flight component. For example, and without limitation powersource may include a motor that operates to move one or more liftpropulsor components, to drive one or more blades, or the like thereof.A motor may be driven by direct current (DC) electric power and mayinclude, without limitation, brushless DC electric motors, switchedreluctance motors, induction motors, or any combination thereof. A motormay also include electronic speed controllers or other components forregulating motor speed, rotation direction, and/or dynamic braking. Inan embodiment, power source may include an inverter. As used in thisdisclosure an “inverter” is a device that changes one or more currentsof a system. For example, and without limitation, inverter may includeone or more electronic devices that change direct current to alternatingcurrent. As a further non-limiting example, inverter may includereceiving a first input voltage and outputting a second voltage, whereinthe second voltage is different from the first voltage. In anembodiment, and without limitation, inverter may output a waveform,wherein a waveform may include a square wave, sine wave, modified sinewave, near sine wave, and the like thereof.

Still referring to FIG. 1 , power source may include an energy source.An energy source may include, for example, a generator, a photovoltaicdevice, a fuel cell such as a hydrogen fuel cell, direct methanol fuelcell, and/or solid oxide fuel cell, an electric energy storage device(e.g. a capacitor, an inductor, and/or a battery). An energy source mayalso include a battery cell, or a plurality of battery cells connectedin series into a module and each module connected in series or inparallel with other modules. Configuration of an energy sourcecontaining connected modules may be designed to meet an energy or powerrequirement and may be designed to fit within a designated footprint inan electric aircraft in which aircraft 100 may be incorporated.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 1 , an energy source maybe used to provide a steady supply of electrical power to a load overthe course of a flight by a vehicle or other electric aircraft. Forexample, the energy source may be capable of providing sufficient powerfor “cruising” and other relatively low-energy phases of flight. Anenergy source may also be capable of providing electrical power for somehigher-power phases of flight as well, particularly when the energysource is at a high SOC, as may be the case for instance during takeoff.In an embodiment, the energy source may be capable of providingsufficient electrical power for auxiliary loads including withoutlimitation, lighting, navigation, communications, de-icing, steering orother systems requiring power or energy. Further, the energy source maybe capable of providing sufficient power for controlled descent andlanding protocols, including, without limitation, hovering descent orrunway landing. As used herein the energy source may have high powerdensity where the electrical power an energy source can usefully produceper unit of volume and/or mass is relatively high. The electrical poweris defined as the rate of electrical energy per unit time. An energysource may include a device for which power that may be produced perunit of volume and/or mass has been optimized, at the expense of themaximal total specific energy density or power capacity, during design.Non-limiting examples of items that may be used as at least an energysource may include batteries used for starting applications including Liion batteries which may include NCA, NMC, Lithium iron phosphate(LiFePO4) and Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO) batteries, which may bemixed with another cathode chemistry to provide more specific power ifthe application requires Li metal batteries, which have a lithium metalanode that provides high power on demand, Li ion batteries that have asilicon or titanite anode, energy source may be used, in an embodiment,to provide electrical power to an electric aircraft or drone, such as anelectric aircraft vehicle, during moments requiring high rates of poweroutput, including without limitation takeoff, landing, thermal de-icingand situations requiring greater power output for reasons of stability,such as high turbulence situations, as described in further detailbelow. A battery may include, without limitation a battery using nickelbased chemistries such as nickel cadmium or nickel metal hydride, abattery using lithium ion battery chemistries such as a nickel cobaltaluminum (NCA), nickel manganese cobalt (NMC), lithium iron phosphate(LiFePO4), lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), and/or lithium manganese oxide(LMO), a battery using lithium polymer technology, lead-based batteriessuch as without limitation lead acid batteries, metal-air batteries, orany other suitable battery. Persons skilled in the art, upon reviewingthe entirety of this disclosure, will be aware of various devices ofcomponents that may be used as an energy source.

Still referring to FIG. 1 , an energy source may include a plurality ofenergy sources, referred to herein as a module of energy sources. Themodule may include batteries connected in parallel or in series or aplurality of modules connected either in series or in parallel designedto deliver both the power and energy requirements of the application.Connecting batteries in series may increase the voltage of at least anenergy source which may provide more power on demand. High voltagebatteries may require cell matching when high peak load is needed. Asmore cells are connected in strings, there may exist the possibility ofone cell failing which may increase resistance in the module and reducethe overall power output as the voltage of the module may decrease as aresult of that failing cell. Connecting batteries in parallel mayincrease total current capacity by decreasing total resistance, and italso may increase overall amp-hour capacity. The overall energy andpower outputs of at least an energy source may be based on theindividual battery cell performance or an extrapolation based on themeasurement of at least an electrical parameter. In an embodiment wherethe energy source includes a plurality of battery cells, the overallpower output capacity may be dependent on the electrical parameters ofeach individual cell. If one cell experiences high self-discharge duringdemand, power drawn from at least an energy source may be decreased toavoid damage to the weakest cell. The energy source may further include,without limitation, wiring, conduit, housing, cooling system and batterymanagement system. Persons skilled in the art will be aware, afterreviewing the entirety of this disclosure, of many different componentsof an energy source.

Still referring to FIG. 1 , plurality of flight components 108 mayinclude a pusher component. As used in this disclosure a “pushercomponent” is a component that pushes and/or thrusts an aircraft througha medium. As a non-limiting example, pusher component may include apusher propeller, a paddle wheel, a pusher motor, a pusher propulsor,and the like. Additionally, or alternatively, pusher flight componentmay include a plurality of pusher flight components. Pusher componentmay be configured to produce a forward thrust. As used in thisdisclosure a “forward thrust” is a thrust that forces aircraft through amedium in a horizontal direction, wherein a horizontal direction is adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis. For example, forward thrustmay include a force of 1145 N to force aircraft to in a horizontaldirection along the longitudinal axis. As a further non-limitingexample, pusher component may twist and/or rotate to pull air behind itand, at the same time, push aircraft 100 forward with an equal amount offorce. In an embodiment, and without limitation, the more air forcedbehind aircraft, the greater the thrust force with which aircraft 100 ispushed horizontally will be. In another embodiment, and withoutlimitation, forward thrust may force aircraft 100 through the medium ofrelative air. Additionally or alternatively, plurality of flightcomponents 108 may include one or more puller components. As used inthis disclosure a “puller component” is a component that pulls and/ortows an aircraft through a medium. As a non-limiting example, pullercomponent may include a flight component such as a puller propeller, apuller motor, a tractor propeller, a puller propulsor, and the like.Additionally, or alternatively, puller component may include a pluralityof puller flight components. Battery pack may be any of the batterypacks described in U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 17/665,454,filed on Feb. 4, 2022, and entitled “AN APPARATUS FOR A GROUND-BASEDBATTERY MANAGEMENT FOR AN ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT,” the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

Now referring to FIG. 2 , a block diagram of a double-sided battery packcooling assembly for an electric aircraft is illustrated as assembly200. The assembly is “double-sided” due to the fact that it allowscooling, or heat transfer, between the plurality of battery componentson either side of the cooling plate. Assembly 200 includes battery pack204, first battery section 208, plurality of battery cells 212, coolingplate 216, thermally insulating separator 220, second battery section224, sensor 228, and a controller 232.

Still referring to FIG. 2 , assembly 200 includes a battery pack 204. Inthis disclosure, a “battery pack” is a power source that is configuredto store electrical energy in the form of a plurality of batterymodules, which themselves are comprised of a plurality ofelectrochemical cells. These cells may utilize electrochemical cells,galvanic cells, electrolytic cells, fuel cells, flow cells, and/orvoltaic cells. In general, an electrochemical cell is a device capableof generating electrical energy from chemical reactions or usingelectrical energy to cause chemical reactions, this disclosure willfocus on the former. Voltaic or galvanic cells are electrochemical cellsthat generate electric current from chemical reactions, whileelectrolytic cells generate chemical reactions via electrolysis. Ingeneral, the term ‘battery’ is used as a collection of cells connectedin series or parallel to each other; battery cells are further explainedbelow.

Still referring to FIG. 2 , battery pack 204 comprises a first batterysection 208 separated from a second battery section 224. In thisdisclosure, a “battery section” refers to a group of battery cellsaligned on either side a separation component, which in this case is athermally insulating separator which is further explained below. Firstbattery section 208 and second battery section 224 both comprise aplurality of battery cells 212. Plurality of battery cells 212 comprisesa first stack of battery cells and a second stack of battery cells.Battery pack 204 may be configured to transfer heat between the firststack of battery cells and the second stack of battery cells. Each cellof the plurality of battery cells 212 comprises a pouch cell. As used inthis disclosure, a “pouch cell” is a battery cell or module thatincludes a pouch. In some cases, a pouch cell may include or be referredto as a prismatic pouch cell, for example when an overall shape of pouchis prismatic. In some cases, a pouch cell may include a pouch which issubstantially flexible. Alternatively or additionally, in some cases,the pouch may be substantially rigid. In some embodiments, the pluralityof pouch cells may include lithium-ion cells. In some embodiments, theplurality of pouch cells may be cylindrical cells. The plurality ofbattery cells composing the first battery section 208 and second batterysection 224 may be consistent with any pouch cell disclosed in U.S.application Ser. No. 17/404,500, filed on Aug. 17, 2021, and entitled“STACK BATTERY PACK FOR ELECTRIC VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDINGAIRCRAFT,” or U.S. application Ser. No. 17/475,743, filed on Sep. 15,2021, and entitled “BATTERY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AN ELECTRIC AIRCRAFTWITH SPRING CONDUCTORS,” the entirety of both applications is herebyincorporated by reference. Furthermore, an exemplary embodiment of apouch cell is described in further detail in FIG. 4 .

Referring still to FIG. 2 , first battery section 208 and second batterysection 224 are separated by a thermally insulating separator 220. Forthe purpose of this disclosure, “thermally insulating separator” meansan element of a battery pack configured to form a barrier betweenbattery cells. Separator 220 is “thermally insulated” meaning it reducesthe amount of heat transfer between whatever it is separating, which inthis case are the battery sections. Thermally insulating separator 220may include thermally insulating material as understood by personsskilled in battery construction. Materials that have a thermalconductivity above 50 W/mK may be used; such materials may includesteel, iron, aluminum, brass, gold, silver, or the like. Thermallyinsulating separator 220 may separate first battery section 208 fromsecond battery section 224. In some embodiments, thermally insulatingseparator 220 may be defined by the negative space between the batterycells that each separates.

Still referring to FIG. 2 , first battery section 208 and second batterysection 224 both also comprise a cooling plate 216. Cooling plate 216has a first side and a second side. In an embodiment, the first side ofcooling plate 216 is in contact with the first stack of battery cells.In some embodiments, the second side of cooling plate 216 is in contactwith the second stack of battery cells. Cooling plate 216 may beadjacent to lower side of the battery pack. For the purposes of thisdisclosure, “adjacent” means sharing a side, border, or edge in commonor sharing a portion of a side, border, or edge in common. Cooling plate216 may include a variety of materials with high thermal conductivity ofover 50 W/mK. As a non-limiting example, cooling plate 216 may includecopper. As a non-limiting example, cooling plate 216 may includeprimarily copper. As another non-limiting example, cooling plate 216 mayinclude aluminum. As a non-limiting example, cooling plate 216 mayinclude primarily aluminum. For the purposes of this disclosure,“primarily,” when discussing the material composition of an object,means more than 50% by volume. Cooling plate 216 may be configured todraw heat away from the adjacent pouch cells. Additionally, coolingplate 216 includes at least a channel configured to contain a fluid. An“at least a channel” is a sort of tube or conduit allowing a fluid totravel through it. The at least a channel is configured to permit thefluid to flow through the at least a channel. As a non-limiting example,the fluid may include air. In some embodiments, the fluid may flowthrough cooling plate 216 or thermally insulating separator 220. In someembodiments, the fluid may be forced through cooling plate 216; fluidmay alternatively or additionally include ambient air, which may passthrough cooling plate 216 passively, under the influence of ventingand/or convection, or the like. This may be accomplished using, asnon-limiting examples, a pump, a fan, an impeller, or the like. As anon-limiting example, cooling plate 216 may include a liquid, such aswater. As another non-limiting example, cooling plate 216 may include aliquid coolant. In some embodiments, cooling plate 216 may include thesame type of fluid. In other embodiments, cooling plate 216 may includedifferent types of fluid. Fluid may comprise a gas or a liquid, such asair, water, or the like. Cooling plate 216 may further comprise apumping device configured to force the fluid through the at least achannel. In this disclosure, a “pumping device” is a mechanical deviceusing suction or pressure to raise or move fluids.

Referring still to FIG. 2 , assembly 200 also includes a sensor 228.Sensor 228 may be communicatively connected to the battery pack 204.“Communicatively connected,” for the purpose of this disclosure, meansconnected such that data and/or electric signals may be transmitted,whether wirelessly or wired. Sensor 228 may be configured to detect atemperature of the battery pack 204. As a non-limiting example, this mayinclude monitoring the temperature of the plurality of battery cells. Asanother non-limiting example, sensor 228 may monitor the temperature ofa portion of the battery pack 204 that is thermally linked to thetemperature of one of the pouch cells. Sensor 228 may be a thermocouple.A thermocouple is a sensor with two dissimilar conductor elements thatform an electrical junction. A thermocouple measures a temperaturedependent voltage across the junction in order to measure temperature.Sensor 228 may be a thermistor, thermometer, passive infrared sensor, orresistance temperature sensor. Temperature, for the purposes of thisdisclosure, and as would be appreciated by someone of ordinary skill inthe art, is a measure of the heat energy of a system. Temperature, asmeasured by sensor 228, may be measured in Fahrenheit (° F.), Celsius (°C.), Kelvin (° K), or another scale alone or in combination. Thetemperature measured by sensor 228 may comprise electrical signals whichare transmitted to their appropriate destination through a wireless orwired connection. In some embodiments, sensor 228 may be part of thebattery pack 204. As used in this disclosure, a “sensor” is a devicethat is configured to detect an input and/or a phenomenon and transmitinformation related to the detection. Sensor 228, in some embodiments,may be part of a sensor suite. Sensor suite may include a sensor orplurality thereof that may detect voltage, current, resistance,capacitance, temperature, or inductance; detection may be performedusing any suitable component, set of components, and/or mechanism fordirect or indirect measurement, including without limitationcomparators, analog to digital converters, any form of voltmeter, or thelike. Sensor suite may include digital sensors, analog sensors, or acombination thereof. Sensor suite may include digital-to-analogconverters (DAC), analog-to-digital converters (ADC, A/D, A-to-D), acombination thereof, or other signal conditioning components used intransmission of a resistance datum over wired or wireless connection.Sensor suite may measure an electrical property at an instant, over aperiod of time, or periodically. Sensor suite may include various sensorto measure those electrical properties. Sensor suite may be configuredto operate at any of these detection modes, switch between modes, orsimultaneously measure in more than one mode.

Still referring to FIG. 2 , assembly 200 also includes a controller 232.As used in this disclosure a “controller” is a computing device of aplurality of computing devices dedicated to data storage, security,distribution of traffic for load balancing, and flight instruction.Controller 232 may be communicatively connected to the sensor.Controller 232 may also be configured to monitor the temperature of thebattery pack. Controller 232 may include and/or communicate with anycomputing device as described in this disclosure, including withoutlimitation a microcontroller, microprocessor, digital signal processor(DSP) and/or system on a chip (SoC) as described in this disclosure.Further, flight controller may include a single computing deviceoperating independently, or may include two or more computing deviceoperating in concert, in parallel, sequentially or the like; two or morecomputing devices may be included together in a single computing deviceor in two or more computing devices. In embodiments, controller 232 maybe installed in an aircraft, may control the aircraft remotely, and/ormay include an element installed in aircraft and a remote element incommunication therewith. Controller 232 is explained further herein withreference to FIGS. 5 and 8 . Controller 232 may be in communication witha pack monitoring unit (PMU). Pack monitoring unit (PMU) may be any PMUdescribed in U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 17/529,583, filedon Nov. 18, 2021, and entitled “PACK MONITORING UNIT FOR AN ELECTRICAIRCRAFT BATTERY PACK AND METHODS OF USE FOR BATTERY MANAGEMENT,” theentirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. Controller 232may be in communication with a module monitor unit (MMU). Module monitorunit (MMU) may be any MMU described in U.S. Nonprovisional applicationSer. No. 17/529,447, filed on Nov. 18, 2021, and entitled “MODULEMONITOR UNIT FOR AN ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT BATTERY PACK AND METHODS OF USE,”the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Now referring to FIG. 3 , an exemplary diagram of a double-sided batterypack cooling assembly is illustrated. Shown is first battery section208, cooling plate 216, thermally insulating separator 220, secondbattery section 224, sensor 228, controller 232, and cooling fin 304.

Still referring to FIG. 3 , cooling plate 216 may include at least acooling fin 304. The at least a cooling fin extending towards thethermally insulating separator 220. In an embodiment, cooling plate 216may include a cooling fin. In some embodiments, cooling plate 216 mayinclude a plurality of cooling fins. Each cooling fin may have aretracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position,cooling fin may not extend into thermally insulating separator 220,respectively. In some embodiments, in the retracted position, coolingfin may only extend partially into the thermally insulating separator220. As a non-limiting example, in the retracted position, cooling finmay extend down 10% of the length of the thermally insulating separator220. In some embodiments, in the extended position, cooling fin mayextend down 80% of the length of the thermally insulating separator 220.In some embodiments, in the extended position, cooling fin may extenddown 100% of the length of the thermally insulating separator 220. Insome embodiments, in the extended position, cooling fin may extend down50% of the length of the thermally insulating separator 220. In someembodiments, in the extended position, the thickness of cooling fin mayoccupy the entire thickness of thermally insulating separator 220. Insome embodiments, in the extended position, the thickness of cooling finmay not occupy the entire thickness of thermally insulating separator220. As a non-limiting example, in the extended position, the thicknessof cooling fin may occupy 60% of the thickness or the thermallyinsulating separator 220. Cooling fin, in some embodiments, may includea ridge, groove, hole, channel, conduit, or the like. This element mayallow the fluid contained in cooling plate 216 to exit the cooling plate216 when cooling fin extend from the retracted position to the extendedposition. The at least a cooling fin may be comprised primarily ofaluminum. The at least a cooling fin may be comprised primarily ofcarbon fiber. Additionally, controller 232 may be configured to send anextension command switching the at least a cooling fin from a retractedposition to an extended position when the temperature of the batterypack is detected to exceed a temperature threshold value. Controller 232may also be configured to send a retraction command switching the atleast a cooling fin from the extended position to the retracted positionwhen the temperature of the battery pack is detected to fall below thetemperature threshold value.

Still referring to FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, cooling fin may bepassive heat spreaders. A “passive heat spreader,” for the purposes ofthis disclosure is a device that transfers heat from a hotter source toa colder heat sink (such as cooling plate 216) wherein no external workis supplied to move the heat. For example, a passive heat spreader maybe a plate, sheet, block, and the like, of material in thermalconnection with a cooling plate. In some embodiments, cooling fin may bemade from a thermally anisotropic material such as carbon fiber. For thepurposes of this disclosure, an “isotropic material” is a material thathas different properties in different directions. For the purposes ofthis disclosure, a “thermally anisotropic material” is a material withdifferent thermal properties in different directions. As a non-limitingexample, a thermally anisotropic material may have a different thermalconductivity in one direction than in another. As a non-limitingexample, carbon fiber has a higher thermal conductivity along itsfibers, then transverse to its fibers.

Now referring to FIG. 4 , an exemplary pouch cell 400 is shown. Pouchbattery cell 400 may include a pouch 404. In some embodiments, pouch 404may be made of a metal, such as aluminum. In some embodiments, pouch 404may be made of a polymer, such as polypropylene, polyamide, orpolybutylene terephthalate, for example. In some embodiments, pouch 404may include a layer of metal sandwiched between two pieces of polymer.As an example, pouch 404 may include a piece of aluminum sandwichedbetween a layer of polypropylene and a layer of polyamide. In someembodiments, pouch 404 may be rigid. In some other embodiments, pouch404 may be flexible. Pouch 404 may include a pair of electrodes. Thepair of electrodes may include a positive electrode 408 and a negativeelectrode 412. In some embodiments, positive electrode 408 may have afoil tab. The foil tab may extend from positive electrode 408, whereinpositive electrode 408 is within pouch 404, to the outside of pouch 404.In some embodiments, negative electrode 412 may have a foil tab. Thefoil tab may extend from negative electrode 412, wherein negativeelectrode 412 is within pouch 404, to the outside of pouch 404. Thepouch 404 may also include a divider 416, the divider 416 substantiallylocated between the negative electrode 412 and the positive electrode408. In some embodiments, pouch 404 may contain an electrolyte 420. Insome embodiments, electrolyte 420 may include lithium. In someembodiments, electrolyte 420 may include a gel, such as a lithiumpolymer. In some embodiments, electrolyte 420 electrolyte 420 mayinclude a liquid such as, for example a liquid containing lithium salts(e.g. LiPF₆, LiBF₄, LiClO₄). In some embodiments, these lithium saltsmay be in an organic solvent, such as, for example, ethylene carbonate,dimethyl carbonate, or diethyl carbonate. In some embodiments,electrolyte 420 may contain solids. In these embodiments, as anon-limiting example, electrolyte 420 may include lithium metal oxides.

With continued reference to FIG. 4 , in some embodiments, pouch batterycell 400 may include a vent. Vent may provide for battery ejecta flowalong a flow path. Vent may include a check valve. Check valve may beconfigured to allow for a flow path and/or fluid in substantially onedirection, for example away from pouch 404. In some cases, vent may beconfigured to allow for a venting of battery ejecta from pouch 404without substantially any flow of battery ejecta toward the pouch 404,for example from other battery pouch cells. According to someembodiments, pouch battery cell 400 may be incorporated in an aircraft,for example a vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Now referring to FIG. 5 , an exemplary embodiment 500 of a possiblecomputing device 208 is illustrated. Thus, a flight controller isillustrated. Flight controller may include and/or communicate with anycomputing device as described in this disclosure, including withoutlimitation a microcontroller, microprocessor, digital signal processor(DSP) and/or system on a chip (SoC) as described in this disclosure.Further, flight controller may include a single computing deviceoperating independently, or may include two or more computing deviceoperating in concert, in parallel, sequentially or the like; two or morecomputing devices may be included together in a single computing deviceor in two or more computing devices. In embodiments, flight controllermay be installed in an aircraft, may control the aircraft remotely,and/or may include an element installed in aircraft and a remote elementin communication therewith.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 5 , flight controller mayinclude a signal transformation component 508. As used in thisdisclosure a “signal transformation component” is a component thattransforms and/or converts a first signal to a second signal, wherein asignal may include one or more digital and/or analog signals. Forexample, and without limitation, signal transformation component 508 maybe configured to perform one or more operations such as preprocessing,lexical analysis, parsing, semantic analysis, and the like thereof. Inan embodiment, and without limitation, signal transformation component508 may include one or more analog-to-digital convertors that transforma first signal of an analog signal to a second signal of a digitalsignal. For example, and without limitation, an analog-to-digitalconverter may convert an analog input signal to a 10-bit binary digitalrepresentation of that signal. In another embodiment, signaltransformation component 508 may include transforming one or morelow-level languages such as, but not limited to, machine languagesand/or assembly languages. For example, and without limitation, signaltransformation component 508 may include transforming a binary languagesignal to an assembly language signal. In an embodiment, and withoutlimitation, signal transformation component 508 may include transformingone or more high-level languages and/or formal languages such as but notlimited to alphabets, strings, and/or languages. For example, andwithout limitation, high-level languages may include one or more systemlanguages, scripting languages, domain-specific languages, visuallanguages, esoteric languages, and the like thereof. As a furthernon-limiting example, high-level languages may include one or morealgebraic formula languages, business data languages, string and listlanguages, object-oriented languages, and the like thereof.

Still referring to FIG. 5 , signal transformation component 508 may beconfigured to optimize an intermediate representation 512. As used inthis disclosure an “intermediate representation” is a data structureand/or code that represents the input signal. Signal transformationcomponent 508 may optimize intermediate representation as a function ofa data-flow analysis, dependence analysis, alias analysis, pointeranalysis, escape analysis, and the like thereof. In an embodiment, andwithout limitation, signal transformation component 508 may optimizeintermediate representation 512 as a function of one or more inlineexpansions, dead code eliminations, constant propagation, looptransformations, and/or automatic parallelization functions. In anotherembodiment, signal transformation component 508 may optimizeintermediate representation as a function of a machine dependentoptimization such as a peephole optimization, wherein a peepholeoptimization may rewrite short sequences of code into more efficientsequences of code. Signal transformation component 508 may optimizeintermediate representation to generate an output language, wherein an“output language,” as used herein, is the native machine language offlight controller. For example, and without limitation, native machinelanguage may include one or more binary and/or numerical languages.

In an embodiment, and without limitation, signal transformationcomponent 508 may include transform one or more inputs and outputs as afunction of an error correction code. An error correction code, alsoknown as error correcting code (ECC), is an encoding of a message or lotof data using redundant information, permitting recovery of corrupteddata. An ECC may include a block code, in which information is encodedon fixed-size packets and/or blocks of data elements such as symbols ofpredetermined size, bits, or the like. Reed-Solomon coding, in whichmessage symbols within a symbol set having q symbols are encoded ascoefficients of a polynomial of degree less than or equal to a naturalnumber k, over a finite field F with q elements; strings so encoded havea minimum hamming distance of k+1, and permit correction of (q−k−1)/2erroneous symbols. Block code may alternatively or additionally beimplemented using Golay coding, also known as binary Golay coding,Bose-Chaudhuri, Hocquenghuem (BCH) coding, multidimensional parity-checkcoding, and/or Hamming codes. An ECC may alternatively or additionallybe based on a convolutional code.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 5 , flight controller mayinclude a reconfigurable hardware platform 516. A “reconfigurablehardware platform,” as used herein, is a component and/or unit ofhardware that may be reprogrammed, such that, for instance, a data pathbetween elements such as logic gates or other digital circuit elementsmay be modified to change an algorithm, state, logical sequence, or thelike of the component and/or unit. This may be accomplished with suchflexible high-speed computing fabrics as field-programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), which may include a grid of interconnected logic gates,connections between which may be severed and/or restored to program inmodified logic. Reconfigurable hardware platform 516 may be reconfiguredto enact any algorithm and/or algorithm selection process received fromanother computing device and/or created using machine-learningprocesses.

Still referring to FIG. 5 , reconfigurable hardware platform 516 mayinclude a logic component 520. As used in this disclosure a “logiccomponent” is a component that executes instructions on output language.For example, and without limitation, logic component may perform basicarithmetic, logic, controlling, input/output operations, and the likethereof. Logic component 520 may include any suitable processor, such aswithout limitation a component incorporating logical circuitry forperforming arithmetic and logical operations, such as an arithmetic andlogic unit (ALU), which may be regulated with a state machine anddirected by operational inputs from memory and/or sensors; logiccomponent 520 may be organized according to Von Neumann and/or Harvardarchitecture as a non-limiting example. Logic component 520 may include,incorporate, and/or be incorporated in, without limitation, amicrocontroller, microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP), FieldProgrammable Gate Array (FPGA), Complex Programmable Logic Device(CPLD), Graphical Processing Unit (GPU), general purpose GPU, TensorProcessing Unit (TPU), analog or mixed signal processor, TrustedPlatform Module (TPM), a floating-point unit (FPU), and/or system on achip (SoC). In an embodiment, logic component 520 may include one ormore integrated circuit microprocessors, which may contain one or morecentral processing units, central processors, and/or main processors, ona single metal-oxide-semiconductor chip. Logic component 520 may beconfigured to execute a sequence of stored instructions to be performedon the output language and/or intermediate representation 512. Logiccomponent 520 may be configured to fetch and/or retrieve the instructionfrom a memory cache, wherein a “memory cache,” as used in thisdisclosure, is a stored instruction set on flight controller. Logiccomponent 520 may be configured to decode the instruction retrieved fromthe memory cache to opcodes and/or operands. Logic component 520 may beconfigured to execute the instruction on intermediate representation 512and/or output language. For example, and without limitation, logiccomponent 520 may be configured to execute an addition operation onintermediate representation 512 and/or output language.

With continued reference to FIG. 5 , in an embodiment, and withoutlimitation, logic component 520 may be configured to calculate a flightelement 524. As used in this disclosure a “flight element” is an elementof datum denoting a relative status of aircraft. For example, andwithout limitation, flight element 524 may denote one or more torques,thrusts, airspeed velocities, forces, altitudes, groundspeed velocities,directions during flight, directions facing, forces, orientations, andthe like thereof. For example, and without limitation, flight element524 may denote that aircraft is cruising at an altitude and/or with asufficient magnitude of forward thrust. As a further non-limitingexample, flight status may denote that is building thrust and/orgroundspeed velocity in preparation for a takeoff. As a furthernon-limiting example, flight element 524 may denote that aircraft isfollowing a flight path accurately and/or sufficiently.

Still referring to FIG. 5 , flight controller may include a chipsetcomponent 528. As used in this disclosure a “chipset component” is acomponent that manages data flow. In an embodiment, and withoutlimitation, chipset component 528 may include a northbridge data flowpath, wherein the northbridge dataflow path may manage data flow fromlogic component 520 to a high-speed device and/or component, such as aRAM, graphics controller, and the like thereof. In another embodiment,and without limitation, chipset component 528 may include a southbridgedata flow path, wherein the southbridge dataflow path may manage dataflow from logic component 520 to lower-speed peripheral buses, such as aperipheral component interconnect (PCI), industry standard architecture(ICA), and the like thereof. In an embodiment, and without limitation,southbridge data flow path may include managing data flow betweenperipheral connections such as ethernet, USB, audio devices, and thelike thereof. Additionally or alternatively, chipset component 528 maymanage data flow between logic component 520, memory cache, and a flightcomponent 108. As used in this disclosure a “flight component” is aportion of an aircraft that can be moved or adjusted to affect one ormore flight elements. For example, flight component 108 may include acomponent used to affect the aircrafts' roll and pitch which may includeone or more ailerons. As a further example, flight component 108 mayinclude a rudder to control yaw of an aircraft. In an embodiment,chipset component 528 may be configured to communicate with a pluralityof flight components as a function of flight element 524. For example,and without limitation, chipset component 528 may transmit to anaircraft rotor to reduce torque of a first lift propulsor and increasethe forward thrust produced by a pusher component to perform a flightmaneuver.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 5 , flight controller isconfigured to produce both autonomous and semi-autonomous flight. Asused in this disclosure an “autonomous function” is a mode and/orfunction of flight controller that controls aircraft automatically. Forexample, and without limitation, autonomous function may perform one ormore aircraft maneuvers, take offs, landings, altitude adjustments,flight leveling adjustments, turns, climbs, and/or descents. As afurther non-limiting example, autonomous function may adjust one or moreairspeed velocities, thrusts, torques, and/or groundspeed velocities. Asa further non-limiting example, autonomous function may perform one ormore flight path corrections and/or flight path modifications as afunction of flight element 524. In an embodiment, autonomous functionmay include one or more modes of autonomy such as, but not limited to,autonomous mode, semi-autonomous mode, and/or non-autonomous mode. Asused in this disclosure “autonomous mode” is a mode that automaticallyadjusts and/or controls aircraft and/or the maneuvers of aircraft in itsentirety. For example, autonomous mode may denote that flight controllerwill adjust the aircraft. As used in this disclosure a “semi-autonomousmode” is a mode that automatically adjusts and/or controls a portionand/or section of aircraft. For example, and without limitation,semi-autonomous mode may denote that a pilot will control thepropulsors, wherein flight controller will control the ailerons and/orrudders. As used in this disclosure “non-autonomous mode” is a mode thatdenotes a pilot will control aircraft and/or maneuvers of aircraft inits entirety.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 5 , flight controller maygenerate autonomous function as a function of an autonomousmachine-learning model. Training data is used to train autonomousmachine-learning model; training data may be stored in a database orbased on expert input. Training data may include an input of the chargeof the batteries and an output of whether they need to be charged. Asused in this disclosure an “autonomous machine-learning model” is amachine-learning model to produce an autonomous function output givenflight element 524 and a pilot signal 536 as inputs; this is in contrastto a non-machine learning software program where the commands to beexecuted are determined in advance by a user and written in aprogramming language. As used in this disclosure a “pilot signal” is anelement of datum representing one or more functions a pilot iscontrolling and/or adjusting. For example, pilot signal 536 may denotethat a pilot is controlling and/or maneuvering ailerons, wherein thepilot is not in control of the rudders and/or propulsors. In anembodiment, pilot signal 536 may include an implicit signal and/or anexplicit signal. For example, and without limitation, pilot signal 536may include an explicit signal, wherein the pilot explicitly statesthere is a lack of control and/or desire for autonomous function. As afurther non-limiting example, pilot signal 536 may include an explicitsignal directing flight controller to control and/or maintain a portionof aircraft, a portion of the flight plan, the entire aircraft, and/orthe entire flight plan. As a further non-limiting example, pilot signal536 may include an implicit signal, wherein flight controller detects alack of control such as by a malfunction, torque alteration, flight pathdeviation, and the like thereof. In an embodiment, and withoutlimitation, pilot signal 536 may include one or more explicit signals toreduce torque, and/or one or more implicit signals that torque may bereduced due to reduction of airspeed velocity. In an embodiment, andwithout limitation, pilot signal 536 may include one or more localand/or global signals. For example, and without limitation, pilot signal536 may include a local signal that is transmitted by a pilot and/orcrew member. As a further non-limiting example, pilot signal 536 mayinclude a global signal that is transmitted by air traffic controland/or one or more remote users that are in communication with the pilotof aircraft. In an embodiment, pilot signal 536 may be received as afunction of a tri-state bus and/or multiplexor that denotes an explicitpilot signal should be transmitted prior to any implicit or global pilotsignal.

Still referring to FIG. 5 , autonomous machine-learning model mayinclude one or more autonomous machine-learning processes such assupervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement machine-learning processesthat flight controller and/or a remote device may or may not use in thegeneration of autonomous function. As used in this disclosure, “remotedevice” is an external device to flight controller. Additionally oralternatively, autonomous machine-learning model may include one or moreautonomous machine-learning processes that a field-programmable gatearray (FPGA) may or may not use in the generation of autonomousfunction. Autonomous machine-learning process may include, withoutlimitation machine learning processes such as simple linear regression,multiple linear regression, polynomial regression, support vectorregression, ridge regression, lasso regression, elastic net regression,decision tree regression, random forest regression, logistic regression,logistic classification, K-nearest neighbors, support vector machines,kernel support vector machines, naïve bayes, decision treeclassification, random forest classification, K-means clustering,hierarchical clustering, dimensionality reduction, principal componentanalysis, linear discriminant analysis, kernel principal componentanalysis, Q-learning, State Action Reward State Action (SARSA), Deep-Qnetwork, Markov decision processes, Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient(DDPG), or the like thereof.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 5 , autonomous machinelearning model may be trained as a function of autonomous training data,wherein autonomous training data may correlate a flight element, pilotsignal, and/or simulation data to an autonomous function. For example,and without limitation, a flight element of an airspeed velocity, apilot signal of limited and/or no control of propulsors, and asimulation data of required airspeed velocity to reach the destinationmay result in an autonomous function that includes a semi-autonomousmode to increase thrust of the propulsors. Autonomous training data maybe received as a function of user-entered valuations of flight elements,pilot signals, simulation data, and/or autonomous functions. Flightcontroller may receive autonomous training data by receivingcorrelations of flight element, pilot signal, and/or simulation data toan autonomous function that were previously received and/or determinedduring a previous iteration of generation of autonomous function.Autonomous training data may be received by one or more remote devicesand/or FPGAs that at least correlate a flight element, pilot signal,and/or simulation data to an autonomous function. Autonomous trainingdata may be received in the form of one or more user-enteredcorrelations of a flight element, pilot signal, and/or simulation datato an autonomous function.

Still referring to FIG. 5 , flight controller may receive autonomousmachine-learning model from a remote device and/or FPGA that utilizesone or more autonomous machine learning processes, wherein a remotedevice and an FPGA is described above in detail. For example, andwithout limitation, a remote device may include a computing device,external device, processor, FPGA, microprocessor and the like thereof.Remote device and/or FPGA may perform the autonomous machine-learningprocess using autonomous training data to generate autonomous functionand transmit the output to flight controller. Remote device and/or FPGAmay transmit a signal, bit, datum, or parameter to flight controllerthat at least relates to autonomous function. Additionally oralternatively, the remote device and/or FPGA may provide an updatedmachine-learning model. For example, and without limitation, an updatedmachine-learning model may be included of a firmware update, a softwareupdate, an autonomous machine-learning process correction, and the likethereof. As a non-limiting example a software update may incorporate anew simulation data that relates to a modified flight element.Additionally or alternatively, the updated machine learning model may betransmitted to the remote device and/or FPGA, wherein the remote deviceand/or FPGA may replace the autonomous machine-learning model with theupdated machine-learning model and generate the autonomous function as afunction of the flight element, pilot signal, and/or simulation datausing the updated machine-learning model. The updated machine-learningmodel may be transmitted by the remote device and/or FPGA and receivedby flight controller as a software update, firmware update, or correctedautonomous machine-learning model. For example, and without limitationautonomous machine learning model may utilize a neural netmachine-learning process, wherein the updated machine-learning model mayincorporate a gradient boosting machine-learning process.

Still referring to FIG. 5 , flight controller may include, be includedin, and/or communicate with a mobile device such as a mobile telephoneor smartphone. Further, flight controller may communicate with one ormore additional devices as described below in further detail via anetwork interface device. The network interface device may be utilizedfor commutatively connecting a flight controller to one or more of avariety of networks, and one or more devices. Examples of a networkinterface device include, but are not limited to, a network interfacecard (e.g., a mobile network interface card, a LAN card), a modem, andany combination thereof. Examples of a network include, but are notlimited to, a wide area network (e.g., the Internet, an enterprisenetwork), a local area network (e.g., a network associated with anoffice, a building, a campus or other relatively small geographicspace), a telephone network, a data network associated with atelephone/voice provider (e.g., a mobile communications provider dataand/or voice network), a direct connection between two computingdevices, and any combinations thereof. The network may include anynetwork topology and can may employ a wired and/or a wireless mode ofcommunication.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 5 , flight controller mayinclude, but is not limited to, for example, a cluster of flightcontrollers in a first location and a second flight controller orcluster of flight controllers in a second location. Flight controllermay include one or more flight controllers dedicated to data storage,security, distribution of traffic for load balancing, and the like.Flight controller may be configured to distribute one or more computingtasks as described below across a plurality of flight controllers, whichmay operate in parallel, in series, redundantly, or in any other mannerused for distribution of tasks or memory between computing devices. Forexample, and without limitation, flight controller may implement acontrol algorithm to distribute and/or command the plurality of flightcontrollers. As used in this disclosure a “control algorithm” is afinite sequence of well-defined computer implementable instructions thatmay determine the flight component of the plurality of flight componentsto be adjusted. For example, and without limitation, control algorithmmay include one or more algorithms that reduce and/or prevent aviationasymmetry. As a further non-limiting example, control algorithms mayinclude one or more models generated as a function of a softwareincluding, but not limited to Simulink by MathWorks, Natick,Massachusetts, USA. In an embodiment, and without limitation, controlalgorithm may be configured to generate an auto-code, wherein an“auto-code,” is used herein, is a code and/or algorithm that isgenerated as a function of the one or more models and/or software's. Inanother embodiment, control algorithm may be configured to produce asegmented control algorithm. As used in this disclosure a “segmentedcontrol algorithm” is control algorithm that has been separated and/orparsed into discrete sections. For example, and without limitation,segmented control algorithm may parse control algorithm into two or moresegments, wherein each segment of control algorithm may be performed byone or more flight controllers operating on distinct flight components.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 5 , control algorithm maybe configured to determine a segmentation boundary as a function ofsegmented control algorithm. As used in this disclosure a “segmentationboundary” is a limit and/or delineation associated with the segments ofthe segmented control algorithm. For example, and without limitation,segmentation boundary may denote that a segment in the control algorithmhas a first starting section and/or a first ending section. As a furthernon-limiting example, segmentation boundary may include one or moreboundaries associated with an ability of flight component 108. In anembodiment, control algorithm may be configured to create an optimizedsignal communication as a function of segmentation boundary. Forexample, and without limitation, optimized signal communication mayinclude identifying the discrete timing required to transmit and/orreceive the one or more segmentation boundaries. In an embodiment, andwithout limitation, creating optimized signal communication furtherincludes separating a plurality of signal codes across the plurality offlight controllers. For example, and without limitation the plurality offlight controllers may include one or more formal networks, whereinformal networks transmit data along an authority chain and/or arelimited to task-related communications. As a further non-limitingexample, communication network may include informal networks, whereininformal networks transmit data in any direction. In an embodiment, andwithout limitation, the plurality of flight controllers may include achain path, wherein a “chain path,” as used herein, is a linearcommunication path comprising a hierarchy that data may flow through. Inan embodiment, and without limitation, the plurality of flightcontrollers may include an all-channel path, wherein an “all-channelpath,” as used herein, is a communication path that is not restricted toa particular direction. For example, and without limitation, data may betransmitted upward, downward, laterally, and the like thereof. In anembodiment, and without limitation, the plurality of flight controllersmay include one or more neural networks that assign a weighted value toa transmitted datum. For example, and without limitation, a weightedvalue may be assigned as a function of one or more signals denoting thata flight component is malfunctioning and/or in a failure state.

Still referring to FIG. 5 , the plurality of flight controllers mayinclude a master bus controller. As used in this disclosure a “masterbus controller” is one or more devices and/or components that areconnected to a bus to initiate a direct memory access transaction,wherein a bus is one or more terminals in a bus architecture. Master buscontroller may communicate using synchronous and/or asynchronous buscontrol protocols. In an embodiment, master bus controller may includeflight controller. In another embodiment, master bus controller mayinclude one or more universal asynchronous receiver-transmitters (UART).For example, and without limitation, master bus controller may includeone or more bus architectures that allow a bus to initiate a directmemory access transaction from one or more buses in the busarchitectures. As a further non-limiting example, master bus controllermay include one or more peripheral devices and/or components tocommunicate with another peripheral device and/or component and/or themaster bus controller. In an embodiment, master bus controller may beconfigured to perform bus arbitration. As used in this disclosure “busarbitration” is method and/or scheme to prevent multiple buses fromattempting to communicate with and/or connect to master bus controller.For example and without limitation, bus arbitration may include one ormore schemes such as a small computer interface system, wherein a smallcomputer interface system is a set of standards for physical connectingand transferring data between peripheral devices and master buscontroller by defining commands, protocols, electrical, optical, and/orlogical interfaces. In an embodiment, master bus controller may receiveintermediate representation 512 and/or output language from logiccomponent 520, wherein output language may include one or moreanalog-to-digital conversions, low bit rate transmissions, messageencryptions, digital signals, binary signals, logic signals, analogsignals, and the like thereof described above in detail.

Still referring to FIG. 5 , master bus controller may communicate with aslave bus. As used in this disclosure a “slave bus” is one or moreperipheral devices and/or components that initiate a bus transfer. Forexample, and without limitation, slave bus may receive one or morecontrols and/or asymmetric communications from master bus controller,wherein slave bus transfers data stored to master bus controller. In anembodiment, and without limitation, slave bus may include one or moreinternal buses, such as but not limited to a/an internal data bus,memory bus, system bus, front-side bus, and the like thereof. In anotherembodiment, and without limitation, slave bus may include one or moreexternal buses such as external flight controllers, external computers,remote devices, printers, aircraft computer systems, flight controlsystems, and the like thereof.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 5 , control algorithm mayoptimize signal communication as a function of determining one or morediscrete timings. For example, and without limitation master buscontroller may synchronize timing of the segmented control algorithm byinjecting high priority timing signals on a bus of the master buscontrol. As used in this disclosure a “high priority timing signal” isinformation denoting that the information is important. For example, andwithout limitation, high priority timing signal may denote that asection of control algorithm is of high priority and should be analyzedand/or transmitted prior to any other sections being analyzed and/ortransmitted. In an embodiment, high priority timing signal may includeone or more priority packets. As used in this disclosure a “prioritypacket” is a formatted unit of data that is communicated between theplurality of flight controllers. For example, and without limitation,priority packet may denote that a section of control algorithm should beused and/or is of greater priority than other sections.

Still referring to FIG. 5 , flight controller may also be implementedusing a “shared nothing” architecture in which data is cached at theworker, in an embodiment, this may enable scalability of aircraft and/orcomputing device. Flight controller may include a distributer flightcontroller. As used in this disclosure a “distributer flight controller”is a component that adjusts and/or controls a plurality of flightcomponents as a function of a plurality of flight controllers. Forexample, distributer flight controller may include a flight controllerthat communicates with a plurality of additional flight controllersand/or clusters of flight controllers. In an embodiment, distributedflight control may include one or more neural networks. For example,neural network also known as an artificial neural network, is a networkof “nodes,” or data structures having one or more inputs, one or moreoutputs, and a function determining outputs based on inputs. Such nodesmay be organized in a network, such as without limitation aconvolutional neural network, including an input layer of nodes, one ormore intermediate layers, and an output layer of nodes. Connectionsbetween nodes may be created via the process of “training” the network,in which elements from a training dataset are applied to the inputnodes, a suitable training algorithm (such as Levenberg-Marquardt,conjugate gradient, simulated annealing, or other algorithms) is thenused to adjust the connections and weights between nodes in adjacentlayers of the neural network to produce the desired values at the outputnodes. This process is sometimes referred to as deep learning.

Still referring to FIG. 5 , a node may include, without limitation aplurality of inputs x_(i) that may receive numerical values from inputsto a neural network containing the node and/or from other nodes. Nodemay perform a weighted sum of inputs using weights w_(i) that aremultiplied by respective inputs x_(i). Additionally or alternatively, abias b may be added to the weighted sum of the inputs such that anoffset is added to each unit in the neural network layer that isindependent of the input to the layer. The weighted sum may then beinput into a function φ, which may generate one or more outputs y.Weight w_(i) applied to an input x_(i) may indicate whether the input is“excitatory,” indicating that it has strong influence on the one or moreoutputs y, for instance by the corresponding weight having a largenumerical value, and/or a “inhibitory,” indicating it has a weak effectinfluence on the one more inputs y, for instance by the correspondingweight having a small numerical value. The values of weights w_(i) maybe determined by training a neural network using training data, whichmay be performed using any suitable process as described above. In anembodiment, and without limitation, a neural network may receivesemantic units as inputs and output vectors representing such semanticunits according to weights w_(i) that are derived using machine-learningprocesses as described in this disclosure.

Still referring to FIG. 5 , flight controller may include asub-controller 540. As used in this disclosure a “sub-controller” is acontroller and/or component that is part of a distributed controller asdescribed above; for instance, flight controller may be and/or include adistributed flight controller made up of one or more sub-controllers.For example, and without limitation, sub-controller 540 may include anycontrollers and/or components thereof that are similar to distributedflight controller and/or flight controller as described above.Sub-controller 540 may include any component of any flight controller asdescribed above. Sub-controller 540 may be implemented in any mannersuitable for implementation of a flight controller as described above.As a further non-limiting example, sub-controller 540 may include one ormore processors, logic components and/or computing devices capable ofreceiving, processing, and/or transmitting data across the distributedflight controller as described above. As a further non-limiting example,sub-controller 540 may include a controller that receives a signal froma first flight controller and/or first distributed flight controllercomponent and transmits the signal to a plurality of additionalsub-controllers and/or flight components.

Still referring to FIG. 5 , flight controller may include aco-controller 544. As used in this disclosure a “co-controller” is acontroller and/or component that joins flight controller as componentsand/or nodes of a distributer flight controller as described above. Forexample, and without limitation, co-controller 544 may include one ormore controllers and/or components that are similar to flightcontroller. As a further non-limiting example, co-controller 544 mayinclude any controller and/or component that joins flight controller todistributer flight controller. As a further non-limiting example,co-controller 544 may include one or more processors, logic componentsand/or computing devices capable of receiving, processing, and/ortransmitting data to and/or from flight controller to distributed flightcontrol system. Co-controller 544 may include any component of anyflight controller as described above. Co-controller 544 may beimplemented in any manner suitable for implementation of a flightcontroller as described above.

In an embodiment, and with continued reference to FIG. 5 , flightcontroller may be designed and/or configured to perform any method,method step, or sequence of method steps in any embodiment described inthis disclosure, in any order and with any degree of repetition. Forinstance, flight controller may be configured to perform a single stepor sequence repeatedly until a desired or commanded outcome is achieved;repetition of a step or a sequence of steps may be performed iterativelyand/or recursively using outputs of previous repetitions as inputs tosubsequent repetitions, aggregating inputs and/or outputs of repetitionsto produce an aggregate result, reduction or decrement of one or morevariables such as global variables, and/or division of a largerprocessing task into a set of iteratively addressed smaller processingtasks. Flight controller may perform any step or sequence of steps asdescribed in this disclosure in parallel, such as simultaneously and/orsubstantially simultaneously performing a step two or more times usingtwo or more parallel threads, processor cores, or the like; division oftasks between parallel threads and/or processes may be performedaccording to any protocol suitable for division of tasks betweeniterations. Persons skilled in the art, upon reviewing the entirety ofthis disclosure, will be aware of various ways in which steps, sequencesof steps, processing tasks, and/or data may be subdivided, shared, orotherwise dealt with using iteration, recursion, and/or parallelprocessing.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , an exemplary embodiment of a machine-learningmodule 600 that may perform one or more machine-learning processes asdescribed in this disclosure is illustrated. Machine-learning module mayperform determinations, classification, and/or analysis steps, methods,processes, or the like as described in this disclosure using machinelearning processes. A machine learning process is a process thatautomatedly uses training data 604 to generate an algorithm that will beperformed by a computing device/module to produce outputs 608 given dataprovided as inputs 612; this is in contrast to a non-machine learningsoftware program where the commands to be executed are determined inadvance by a user and written in a programming language.

Still referring to FIG. 6 , “training data,” as used herein, is datacontaining correlations that a machine-learning process may use to modelrelationships between two or more categories of data elements. Forinstance, and without limitation, training data 604 may include aplurality of data entries, each entry representing a set of dataelements that were recorded, received, and/or generated together; dataelements may be correlated by shared existence in a given data entry, byproximity in a given data entry, or the like. Multiple data entries intraining data 604 may evince one or more trends in correlations betweencategories of data elements; for instance, and without limitation, ahigher value of a first data element belonging to a first category ofdata element may tend to correlate to a higher value of a second dataelement belonging to a second category of data element, indicating apossible proportional or other mathematical relationship linking valuesbelonging to the two categories. Multiple categories of data elementsmay be related in training data 604 according to various correlations;correlations may indicate causative and/or predictive links betweencategories of data elements, which may be modeled as relationships suchas mathematical relationships by machine-learning processes as describedin further detail below. Training data 604 may be formatted and/ororganized by categories of data elements, for instance by associatingdata elements with one or more descriptors corresponding to categoriesof data elements. As a non-limiting example, training data 604 mayinclude data entered in standardized forms by persons or processes, suchthat entry of a given data element in a given field in a form may bemapped to one or more descriptors of categories. Elements in trainingdata 604 may be linked to descriptors of categories by tags, tokens, orother data elements; for instance, and without limitation, training data604 may be provided in fixed-length formats, formats linking positionsof data to categories such as comma-separated value (CSV) formats and/orself-describing formats such as extensible markup language (XML),JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), or the like, enabling processes ordevices to detect categories of data.

Alternatively or additionally, and continuing to refer to FIG. 6 ,training data 604 may include one or more elements that are notcategorized; that is, training data 604 may not be formatted or containdescriptors for some elements of data. Machine-learning algorithmsand/or other processes may sort training data 604 according to one ormore categorizations using, for instance, natural language processingalgorithms, tokenization, detection of correlated values in raw data andthe like; categories may be generated using correlation and/or otherprocessing algorithms. As a non-limiting example, in a corpus of text,phrases making up a number “n” of compound words, such as nouns modifiedby other nouns, may be identified according to a statisticallysignificant prevalence of n-grams containing such words in a particularorder; such an n-gram may be categorized as an element of language suchas a “word” to be tracked similarly to single words, generating a newcategory as a result of statistical analysis. Similarly, in a data entryincluding some textual data, a person's name may be identified byreference to a list, dictionary, or other compendium of terms,permitting ad-hoc categorization by machine-learning algorithms, and/orautomated association of data in the data entry with descriptors or intoa given format. The ability to categorize data entries automatedly mayenable the same training data 604 to be made applicable for two or moredistinct machine-learning algorithms as described in further detailbelow. Training data 604 used by machine-learning module 600 maycorrelate any input data as described in this disclosure to any outputdata as described in this disclosure. As a non-limiting illustrativeexample flight elements and/or pilot signals may be inputs, wherein anoutput may be an autonomous function.

Further referring to FIG. 6 , training data may be filtered, sorted,and/or selected using one or more supervised and/or unsupervisedmachine-learning processes and/or models as described in further detailbelow; such models may include without limitation a training dataclassifier 616. Training data classifier 616 may include a “classifier,”which as used in this disclosure is a machine-learning model as definedbelow, such as a mathematical model, neural net, or program generated bya machine learning algorithm known as a “classification algorithm,” asdescribed in further detail below, that sorts inputs into categories orbins of data, outputting the categories or bins of data and/or labelsassociated therewith. A classifier may be configured to output at leasta datum that labels or otherwise identifies a set of data that areclustered together, found to be close under a distance metric asdescribed below, or the like. Machine-learning module 600 may generate aclassifier using a classification algorithm, defined as a processeswhereby a computing device and/or any module and/or component operatingthereon derives a classifier from training data 604. Classification maybe performed using, without limitation, linear classifiers such aswithout limitation logistic regression and/or naive Bayes classifiers,nearest neighbor classifiers such as k-nearest neighbors classifiers,support vector machines, least squares support vector machines, fisher'slinear discriminant, quadratic classifiers, decision trees, boostedtrees, random forest classifiers, learning vector quantization, and/orneural network-based classifiers. As a non-limiting example, trainingdata classifier 616 may classify elements of training data tosub-categories of flight elements such as torques, forces, thrusts,directions, and the like thereof.

Still referring to FIG. 6 , machine-learning module 600 may beconfigured to perform a lazy-learning process 620 and/or protocol, whichmay alternatively be referred to as a “lazy loading” or“call-when-needed” process and/or protocol, may be a process wherebymachine learning is conducted upon receipt of an input to be convertedto an output, by combining the input and training set to derive thealgorithm to be used to produce the output on demand. For instance, aninitial set of simulations may be performed to cover an initialheuristic and/or “first guess” at an output and/or relationship. As anon-limiting example, an initial heuristic may include a ranking ofassociations between inputs and elements of training data 604. Heuristicmay include selecting some number of highest-ranking associations and/ortraining data 604 elements. Lazy learning may implement any suitablelazy learning algorithm, including without limitation a K-nearestneighbors algorithm, a lazy naïve Bayes algorithm, or the like; personsskilled in the art, upon reviewing the entirety of this disclosure, willbe aware of various lazy-learning algorithms that may be applied togenerate outputs as described in this disclosure, including withoutlimitation lazy learning applications of machine-learning algorithms asdescribed in further detail below.

Alternatively or additionally, and with continued reference to FIG. 6 ,machine-learning processes as described in this disclosure may be usedto generate machine-learning models 624. A “machine-learning model,” asused in this disclosure, is a mathematical and/or algorithmicrepresentation of a relationship between inputs and outputs, asgenerated using any machine-learning process including withoutlimitation any process as described above and stored in memory; an inputis submitted to a machine-learning model 624 once created, whichgenerates an output based on the relationship that was derived. Forinstance, and without limitation, a linear regression model, generatedusing a linear regression algorithm, may compute a linear combination ofinput data using coefficients derived during machine-learning processesto calculate an output datum. As a further non-limiting example, amachine-learning model 624 may be generated by creating an artificialneural network, such as a convolutional neural network comprising aninput layer of nodes, one or more intermediate layers, and an outputlayer of nodes. Connections between nodes may be created via the processof “training” the network, in which elements from a training data 604set are applied to the input nodes, a suitable training algorithm (suchas Levenberg-Marquardt, conjugate gradient, simulated annealing, orother algorithms) is then used to adjust the connections and weightsbetween nodes in adjacent layers of the neural network to produce thedesired values at the output nodes. This process is sometimes referredto as deep learning.

Still referring to FIG. 6 , machine-learning algorithms may include atleast a supervised machine-learning process 628. At least a supervisedmachine-learning process 628, as defined herein, include algorithms thatreceive a training set relating a number of inputs to a number ofoutputs, and seek to find one or more mathematical relations relatinginputs to outputs, where each of the one or more mathematical relationsis optimal according to some criterion specified to the algorithm usingsome scoring function. For instance, a supervised learning algorithm mayinclude flight elements and/or pilot signals as described above asinputs, autonomous functions as outputs, and a scoring functionrepresenting a desired form of relationship to be detected betweeninputs and outputs; scoring function may, for instance, seek to maximizethe probability that a given input and/or combination of elements inputsis associated with a given output to minimize the probability that agiven input is not associated with a given output. Scoring function maybe expressed as a risk function representing an “expected loss” of analgorithm relating inputs to outputs, where loss is computed as an errorfunction representing a degree to which a prediction generated by therelation is incorrect when compared to a given input-output pairprovided in training data 604. Persons skilled in the art, uponreviewing the entirety of this disclosure, will be aware of variouspossible variations of at least a supervised machine-learning process628 that may be used to determine relation between inputs and outputs.Supervised machine-learning processes may include classificationalgorithms as defined above.

Further referring to FIG. 6 , machine learning processes may include atleast an unsupervised machine-learning processes 632. An unsupervisedmachine-learning process, as used herein, is a process that derivesinferences in datasets without regard to labels; as a result, anunsupervised machine-learning process may be free to discover anystructure, relationship, and/or correlation provided in the data.Unsupervised processes may not require a response variable; unsupervisedprocesses may be used to find interesting patterns and/or inferencesbetween variables, to determine a degree of correlation between two ormore variables, or the like.

Still referring to FIG. 6 , machine-learning module 600 may be designedand configured to create a machine-learning model 624 using techniquesfor development of linear regression models. Linear regression modelsmay include ordinary least squares regression, which aims to minimizethe square of the difference between predicted outcomes and actualoutcomes according to an appropriate norm for measuring such adifference (e.g. a vector-space distance norm); coefficients of theresulting linear equation may be modified to improve minimization.Linear regression models may include ridge regression methods, where thefunction to be minimized includes the least-squares function plus termmultiplying the square of each coefficient by a scalar amount topenalize large coefficients. Linear regression models may include leastabsolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) models, in which ridgeregression is combined with multiplying the least-squares term by afactor of 1 divided by double the number of samples. Linear regressionmodels may include a multi-task lasso model wherein the norm applied inthe least-squares term of the lasso model is the Frobenius normamounting to the square root of the sum of squares of all terms. Linearregression models may include the elastic net model, a multi-taskelastic net model, a least angle regression model, a LARS lasso model,an orthogonal matching pursuit model, a Bayesian regression model, alogistic regression model, a stochastic gradient descent model, aperceptron model, a passive aggressive algorithm, a robustnessregression model, a Huber regression model, or any other suitable modelthat may occur to persons skilled in the art upon reviewing the entiretyof this disclosure. Linear regression models may be generalized in anembodiment to polynomial regression models, whereby a polynomialequation (e.g. a quadratic, cubic or higher-order equation) providing abest predicted output/actual output fit is sought; similar methods tothose described above may be applied to minimize error functions, aswill be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reviewing theentirety of this disclosure.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 6 , machine-learning algorithms may include,without limitation, linear discriminant analysis. Machine-learningalgorithm may include quadratic discriminate analysis. Machine-learningalgorithms may include kernel ridge regression. Machine-learningalgorithms may include support vector machines, including withoutlimitation support vector classification-based regression processes.Machine-learning algorithms may include stochastic gradient descentalgorithms, including classification and regression algorithms based onstochastic gradient descent. Machine-learning algorithms may includenearest neighbors algorithms. Machine-learning algorithms may includeGaussian processes such as Gaussian Process Regression. Machine-learningalgorithms may include cross-decomposition algorithms, including partialleast squares and/or canonical correlation analysis. Machine-learningalgorithms may include naïve Bayes methods. Machine-learning algorithmsmay include algorithms based on decision trees, such as decision treeclassification or regression algorithms. Machine-learning algorithms mayinclude ensemble methods such as bagging meta-estimator, forest ofrandomized tress, AdaBoost, gradient tree boosting, and/or votingclassifier methods. Machine-learning algorithms may include neural netalgorithms, including convolutional neural net processes.

Now referring to FIG. 7 , a block diagram for a manufacturing method fora double-sided battery pack cooling assembly is illustrated. Batterypack assembly may be any battery pack assembly described herein withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3 .

Still referring to FIG. 7 , at step 705, method 700 includes making eachof a first battery section 208 and a second battery section 224 using aplurality of battery cells 212 and a cooling plate 216. A plurality ofbattery cells 212 comprising a first stack of battery cells and a secondstack of battery cells. Each cell of the plurality of battery cellscomprises a pouch cell. Each cell of the plurality of battery cells is acylindrical cell. Each cell of the plurality of battery cells is alithium-ion cell. Cooling plate 216 has a first side and a second sideto the battery pack, wherein the first side is in contact with the firststack of battery cells and the second side is in contact with the secondstack of battery cells. Cooling plate allows heat transfer between thefirst stack of battery cells and the second stack of battery cells.Cooling plate includes at least a channel configured to contain a fluid.Fluid comprises a gas, or fluid comprises a liquid. The at least achannel is configured to permit the fluid to flow through the at least achannel. Cooling plate 216 further comprises a pumping device configuredto force the fluid through the at least a channel. Cooling platecomprises at least a cooling fin. Cooling fin is comprised primarily ofaluminum or carbon fiber. The at least a cooling fin has an extendedposition and a retracted position, in the extended position the at leasta cooling fin extends into the thermally insulating separator and in theretracted position the at least a cooling fin does not extend into thethermally insulating separator.

Still referring to FIG. 7 , at step 710, method 700 includes combiningthe first and the second battery sections 208 and 224 with an insulatingseparator 220 to make a battery pack 204. Battery pack 204 is designedand configured to provide electrical power to the electric aircraft.Battery pack is configured to transfer heat between the first stack ofbattery cells and the second stack of battery cells.

Still referring to FIG. 7 , at step 715, method 700 includes attachingthe sensor 228 to the battery pack 204.

Still referring to FIG. 7 , at step 720, method 700 includescommunicatively connecting a controller 232 to the sensor 228.controller configured to send an extension command switching the atleast a cooling fin from a retracted position to an extended positionwhen the temperature of the battery pack is detected to exceed atemperature threshold value. controller is further configured to send aretraction command switching the at least a cooling fin from theextended position to the retracted position when the temperature of thebattery pack is detected to fall below the temperature threshold value.

It is to be noted that any one or more of the aspects and embodimentsdescribed herein may be conveniently implemented using one or moremachines (e.g., one or more computing devices that are utilized as auser computing device for an electronic document, one or more serverdevices, such as a document server, etc.) programmed according to theteachings of the present specification, as will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the computer art. Appropriate software coding canreadily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of thepresent disclosure, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe software art. Aspects and implementations discussed above employingsoftware and/or software modules may also include appropriate hardwarefor assisting in the implementation of the machine executableinstructions of the software and/or software module.

Such software may be a computer program product that employs amachine-readable storage medium. A machine-readable storage medium maybe any medium that is capable of storing and/or encoding a sequence ofinstructions for execution by a machine (e.g., a computing device) andthat causes the machine to perform any one of the methodologies and/orembodiments described herein. Examples of a machine-readable storagemedium include, but are not limited to, a magnetic disk, an optical disc(e.g., CD, CD-R, DVD, DVD-R, etc.), a magneto-optical disk, a read-onlymemory “ROM” device, a random-access memory “RAM” device, a magneticcard, an optical card, a solid-state memory device, an EPROM, an EEPROM,and any combinations thereof. A machine-readable medium, as used herein,is intended to include a single medium as well as a collection ofphysically separate media, such as, for example, a collection of compactdiscs or one or more hard disk drives in combination with a computermemory. As used herein, a machine-readable storage medium does notinclude transitory forms of signal transmission.

Such software may also include information (e.g., data) carried as adata signal on a data carrier, such as a carrier wave. For example,machine-executable information may be included as a data-carrying signalembodied in a data carrier in which the signal encodes a sequence ofinstruction, or portion thereof, for execution by a machine (e.g., acomputing device) and any related information (e.g., data structures anddata) that causes the machine to perform any one of the methodologiesand/or embodiments described herein.

Examples of a computing device include, but are not limited to, anelectronic book reading device, a computer workstation, a terminalcomputer, a server computer, a handheld device (e.g., a tablet computer,a smartphone, etc.), a web appliance, a network router, a networkswitch, a network bridge, any machine capable of executing a sequence ofinstructions that specify an action to be taken by that machine, and anycombinations thereof. In one example, a computing device may includeand/or be included in a kiosk.

FIG. 8 shows a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of acomputing device in the exemplary form of a computer system 800 withinwhich a set of instructions for causing a control system to perform anyone or more of the aspects and/or methodologies of the presentdisclosure may be executed. It is also contemplated that multiplecomputing devices may be utilized to implement a specially configuredset of instructions for causing one or more of the devices to performany one or more of the aspects and/or methodologies of the presentdisclosure. Computer system 800 includes a processor 804 and a memory808 that communicate with each other, and with other components, via abus 812. Bus 812 may include any of several types of bus structuresincluding, but not limited to, a memory bus, a memory controller, aperipheral bus, a local bus, and any combinations thereof, using any ofa variety of bus architectures.

Processor 804 may include any suitable processor, such as withoutlimitation a processor incorporating logical circuitry for performingarithmetic and logical operations, such as an arithmetic and logic unit(ALU), which may be regulated with a state machine and directed byoperational inputs from memory and/or sensors; processor 804 may beorganized according to Von Neumann and/or Harvard architecture as anon-limiting example. Processor 804 may include, incorporate, and/or beincorporated in, without limitation, a microcontroller, microprocessor,digital signal processor (DSP), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA),Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), Graphical Processing Unit(GPU), general purpose GPU, Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), analog ormixed signal processor, Trusted Platform Module (TPM), a floating pointunit (FPU), and/or system on a chip (SoC).

Memory 808 may include various components (e.g., machine-readable media)including, but not limited to, a random-access memory component, a readonly component, and any combinations thereof. In one example, a basicinput/output system 816 (BIOS), including basic routines that help totransfer information between elements within computer system 800, suchas during start-up, may be stored in memory 808. Memory 808 may alsoinclude (e.g., stored on one or more machine-readable media)instructions (e.g., software) 820 embodying any one or more of theaspects and/or methodologies of the present disclosure. In anotherexample, memory 808 may further include any number of program modulesincluding, but not limited to, an operating system, one or moreapplication programs, other program modules, program data, and anycombinations thereof.

Computer system 800 may also include a storage device 824. Examples of astorage device (e.g., storage device 824) include, but are not limitedto, a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disc drive incombination with an optical medium, a solid-state memory device, and anycombinations thereof. Storage device 824 may be connected to bus 812 byan appropriate interface (not shown). Example interfaces include, butare not limited to, SCSI, advanced technology attachment (ATA), serialATA, universal serial bus (USB), IEEE 1394 (FIREWIRE), and anycombinations thereof. In one example, storage device 824 (or one or morecomponents thereof) may be removably interfaced with computer system 800(e.g., via an external port connector (not shown)). Particularly,storage device 824 and an associated machine-readable medium 828 mayprovide nonvolatile and/or volatile storage of machine-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, and/or other data forcomputer system 800. In one example, software 820 may reside, completelyor partially, within machine-readable medium 828. In another example,software 820 may reside, completely or partially, within processor 804.

Computer system 800 may also include an input device 832. In oneexample, a user of computer system 800 may enter commands and/or otherinformation into computer system 800 via input device 832. Examples ofan input device 832 include, but are not limited to, an alpha-numericinput device (e.g., a keyboard), a pointing device, a joystick, agamepad, an audio input device (e.g., a microphone, a voice responsesystem, etc.), a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse), a touchpad, anoptical scanner, a video capture device (e.g., a still camera, a videocamera), a touchscreen, and any combinations thereof. Input device 832may be interfaced to bus 812 via any of a variety of interfaces (notshown) including, but not limited to, a serial interface, a parallelinterface, a game port, a USB interface, a FIREWIRE interface, a directinterface to bus 812, and any combinations thereof. Input device 832 mayinclude a touch screen interface that may be a part of or separate fromdisplay 836, discussed further below. Input device 832 may be utilizedas a user selection device for selecting one or more graphicalrepresentations in a graphical interface as described above.

A user may also input commands and/or other information to computersystem 800 via storage device 824 (e.g., a removable disk drive, a flashdrive, etc.) and/or network interface device 840. A network interfacedevice, such as network interface device 840, may be utilized forconnecting computer system 800 to one or more of a variety of networks,such as network 844, and one or more remote devices 848 connectedthereto. Examples of a network interface device include, but are notlimited to, a network interface card (e.g., a mobile network interfacecard, a LAN card), a modem, and any combination thereof. Examples of anetwork include, but are not limited to, a wide area network (e.g., theInternet, an enterprise network), a local area network (e.g., a networkassociated with an office, a building, a campus or other relativelysmall geographic space), a telephone network, a data network associatedwith a telephone/voice provider (e.g., a mobile communications providerdata and/or voice network), a direct connection between two computingdevices, and any combinations thereof. A network, such as network 844,may employ a wired and/or a wireless mode of communication. In general,any network topology may be used. Information (e.g., data, software 820,etc.) may be communicated to and/or from computer system 800 via networkinterface device 840.

Computer system 800 may further include a video display adapter 852 forcommunicating a displayable image to a display device, such as displaydevice 836. Examples of a display device include, but are not limitedto, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasmadisplay, a light emitting diode (LED) display, and any combinationsthereof. Display adapter 852 and display device 836 may be utilized incombination with processor 804 to provide graphical representations ofaspects of the present disclosure. In addition to a display device,computer system 800 may include one or more other peripheral outputdevices including, but not limited to, an audio speaker, a printer, andany combinations thereof. Such peripheral output devices may beconnected to bus 812 via a peripheral interface 856. Examples of aperipheral interface include, but are not limited to, a serial port, aUSB connection, a FIREWIRE connection, a parallel connection, and anycombinations thereof.

The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrativeembodiments of the invention. Various modifications and additions can bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.Features of each of the various embodiments described above may becombined with features of other described embodiments as appropriate inorder to provide a multiplicity of feature combinations in associatednew embodiments. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number ofseparate embodiments, what has been described herein is merelyillustrative of the application of the principles of the presentinvention. Additionally, although particular methods herein may beillustrated and/or described as being performed in a specific order, theordering is highly variable within ordinary skill to achieve methods,systems, and software according to the present disclosure. Accordingly,this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not tootherwise limit the scope of this invention.

Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes, omissions and additions may be made to that whichis specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A double-sided battery pack cooling assembly for an electric aircraft, the assembly comprising: a battery pack, the battery pack comprising: a first battery section separated from a second battery section by a thermally insulating separator disposed in a negative space between the first battery section and second battery section, wherein each of the first battery section and the second battery section comprises: a plurality of battery cells comprising a first stack of battery cells and a second stack of battery cells; and a cooling plate, located adjacent to a lower side of the battery pack, having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is in contact with the first stack of battery cells and the second side is in contact with the second stack of battery cells, wherein the cooling plate comprises at least a cooling fin extending towards the thermally insulating separator, wherein the cooling fin comprises a thermally anisotropic material; a sensor comprising two dissimilar conductor elements that form an electrical junction, the sensor configured to detect a temperature of the battery pack as function of measuring a temperature dependent voltage across the electrical junction, the sensor connected to the battery pack; and a controller, the controller communicatively connected to the sensor, the controller configured to monitor the temperature of the battery pack.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery pack is configured to transfer heat between the first stack of battery cells and the second stack of battery cells.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each cell of the plurality of battery cells comprises a pouch cell.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each cell of the plurality of battery cells is a cylindrical cell.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each cell of the plurality of battery cells is a lithium-ion cell.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cooling plate includes at least a channel configured to contain a fluid.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the fluid comprises a gas.
 8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the fluid comprises a liquid.
 9. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least a channel is configured to permit the fluid to flow through the at least a channel.
 10. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising a pumping device configured to force the fluid through the at least a channel.
 11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least a cooling fin is comprised primarily of carbon fiber.
 12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least a cooling fin has an extended position and a retracted position, in the extended position the at least a cooling fin extends into the thermally insulating separator and in the retracted position the at least a cooling fin does not extend into the thermally insulating separator.
 13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the controller configured to: send an extension command switching the at least a cooling fin from a retracted position to an extended position when the temperature of the battery pack is detected to exceed a temperature threshold value.
 14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to: send a retraction command switching the at least a cooling fin from the extended position to the retracted position when the temperature of the battery pack is detected to fall below the temperature threshold value.
 15. A method for manufacturing a double-sided battery pack cooling assembly for an electric aircraft, the method comprising: making each of a first battery section and a second battery section using a plurality of battery cells and a cooling plate located adjacent to a lower side of the battery pack, wherein the cooling plate comprises at least a cooling fin extending towards the thermally insulating separator, wherein the cooling fin comprises a thermally anisotropic material; combining the first and the second battery sections with an insulating separator disposed in a negative space between the first battery section and second battery section, to make a battery pack; attaching a sensor to the battery pack, wherein the sensor comprises two dissimilar conductor elements that form an electrical junction, wherein the sensor is configured to measure a temperature dependent voltage across the electrical junction; and communicatively connecting a controller to the sensor.
 16. The manufacturing method of claim 15, wherein the battery pack is designed and configured to provide electrical power to the electric aircraft.
 17. The manufacturing method of claim 15, wherein the cooling plate allows heat transfer between the first stack of battery cells and the second stack of battery cells.
 18. The manufacturing method of claim 15, wherein monitoring the temperature of the battery pack includes comparing a detected temperature to a temperature threshold value. 